A grey day at Kew

 Today was meant to be really cold, so I wrapped up well; in the end it wasn't as bad as I had thought, and no frosty pics that I had hoped for! So, a somewhat short trip to Kew...

the winter bedding in front of the Palm House is quite muted, white and purple

Most of the Christmas lights have been dismantled, there were people still working today 

the urns  along the pond will be empty for some time though. 

It's dry today so I was able to crouch down for some shots, but it was a real struggle getting back up again!  

dogwood still providing welcome colour

and the hellebores at the top of the Broad Walk

euphorbia,  

a lot of the plants in the Broad Walk have been cleared for winter but the euphorbia grows well all year 

the robins haven't flown off yet!  was good to see them - they'll be gone next week 

and outside the Princess of Wales, Snapper was still there - but there were workers removing the houses, so Snapper will no doubt be next 

bye, Snapper!  

Loved you.  

the POW is closed now whilst they install the Orchid festival (Madagascar this year, my time slots all booked)  

so straight on to the Alpine house 

the little alpine irises were beautiful 

this is growing well.

I didn't pause in the rock garden at the snowdrops today

berries on the Sacred Bamboo

and mahonia

they've been working in the evolution garden, clearing a lot of the beds ready for spring 

nearly finished now. 

in the middle of a bed in the far end of the evolution garden,  can't see the label from the path! 

walking back along the path at the end of the rock garden towards the POW 

gorgeous trunks!

I walked back round the pond

more mahonia

Temperate House...

the tempranillo tree tomatoes 

the viewing platform was open but I didn't walk round the upper level today, I did stand a few steps up the down staircase to get a better look at this. which I never know what it is

I walked all through the Temperate House

it's always nice when this comes back into flower 

so far all the flowers are high up, and at eye level is all big leaves.

outside again and walking round the back of the Temeperate House to the pathway to the lake

Bare trees against a grey sky.  great shapes.  

the island in the lake has been hard pruned this year, it looks really open across to the other side of the crossing. 

as you can see from the phone 

walking round the lake,  Peter was on "his" bench surrounded - mostly by pigeons to be honest - but lots of ducks and gulls in the water, and some mandarin ducks on the back of the bench

I tried not to disturb him and walked by on the grass away from the path, but something (possibly me) spooked the pigeons and they all flew off

no sign of the swans today

further along you get a view back to the island and the crossing

towards the other end of the lake, the boggy end with all the reeds, the heron was up to his/her bum in the water watching for fish

cutting back across the grass 

towards the magnolia glen 

pausing for stem colour

it has been a very grey day so far, so every bit of colour was welcome

large leaf on the grass 

there are early signs of blooms coming on some of the magnolias in the glen - and at present the ground underneath is reasonably dry -  inevitably when they are in bloom I bet it will be a soggy mess after lots of rain, it nearly always is!  we'll see!

more bare trees against the sky

back on the Broad Walk with a view of the Hive

grasses,  no sun but still pretty

a quick look at the hellebores again on my way by

one single plant in the pot in the middle of the round bed at each end of the pond 

some geese flew overhead and I caught some of them landing in the pond

bedding

the one the other end 

hellebore in the bed in front of the cafe at the entrance/exit

final bit of winter colour coming through.

I called it a day at this point. Really missing the company of Kim, still recovering from her ankle break and the lack of colour today!

Thanks for looking - see you again next week.